FAC (Defence) roundtable in Brussels, Belgium;
Credit: European Union
On Wednesday 11 February 2026, Luxembourg's Minister of Defence, Yuriko Backes, participated in the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) in its Defence configuration in Brussels, Belgium.
The first FAC session, attended by Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, focused on the European Union's military support for Ukraine amid recent massive and deliberate Russian attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure. According to Luxembourg's Directorate of Defence, discussions focused on three main areas: strengthening EU-Ukraine cooperation on defence innovation; financing options, including the EU's €90 billion support loan package for Ukraine; and reinforcing the Ukrainian armed forces, notably through the EU Military Assistance Mission in Support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine).
In her remarks, Minister Backes recalled that next week will mark the beginning of the fifth year of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. She described the support loan to Ukraine as "essential", stressing that it "supports the long-term sustainability of our aid and, ultimately, will save Ukrainian lives."
"However, this loan should not be seen as a substitute for bilateral aid, which remains crucial and must be maintained," she added.
To date, Luxembourg has provided €414 million in military support to Ukraine. In 2026, Luxembourg will allocate a minimum of €100 million in additional funding, bringing its total investment in Ukraine's defence capabilities since February 2022 to over half a billion euros.
During the second session, EU defence ministers exchanged views on strengthening European defence and enhancing the EU's preparedness in response to a deteriorating security environment and a rapidly evolving global context.
"The EU now has a wide range of measures and instruments at its disposal. Our priority must be to implement them. These will enable us not only to become more independent and self-reliant, but also to become a stronger and more reliable partner," stated Minister Backes.
